Whispering Angel rosé, shared plates, and a warm summer’s evening with old friends, this is what good dining memories are made of. Tucked just off Gloucester Road, Villa Mamas feels like an elegant secret garden, welcoming, fragrant, and utterly transportive. We sit outside on the prettiest of terraces, clinking glasses of chilled Whispering Angel rosé under a slowly setting sun, already enchanted before the first dish arrives.
Founded by Chef Roaya Saleh, Villa Mamas has journeyed from Bahrain to London, and her culinary roots are on proud display here. The menu celebrates Khaleeji tradition with a contemporary hand – comforting, generous, and rich with spice and soul. We start with creamy baba ghanoush, its smoky aubergine depth lifted by lemon and tahini, alongside homemade khubus with Mahyawa – a punchy fermented anchovy dip that makes us reach for more wine.
A refreshing watermelon, red onion and feta salad brings a cooling contrast, juicy, sharp, and wonderfully light. Then comes the stars of the table: Mozat Laham, a deeply flavoured, slow-cooked lamb shank falling off the bone and served with nutty vermicelli rice and pistachios; and a perfectly grilled chicken breast, zingy with pomegranate molasses, served over fragrant saffron rice. Tangy, nutty, sweet and savoury all at once, this is an unexpected standout.
Despite swearing we have no room for dessert, we somehow manage to “share” a saffron ice cream drizzled in rose syrup and crowned with a playful puff of candy floss; light, floral, and completely irresistible. Service is warm, attentive and full of heart, just the right balance. A truly golden spot, and one we’ll be returning to very soon.
